usb 2 or 3, firewire.....thunderbolt???

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Level 1

110 points

usb 2 or 3, firewire.....thunderbolt???

I'm looking for a new external hard drive and I realize I need to know whether I neet usb 2 or 3. Or does this matter? How do I know? And firewire? In the last few years it seems they've changed their plugs a couple times. And now online I'm seeing apple "Thunderbolt". Too many options. What do I need to know? My software is up to date Mavericks. My iMac is second release of the all aluminum style of the large flatscreen iMac, it's about 7 years old I think.

iMac, OS X Mavericks (10.9.1)

Posted on Feb 13, 2014 7:26 PM

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Answer 1

Best reply

Niel

Level 10

727,073 points

Feb 13, 2014 7:33 PM in response to James Thomson

USB 2 and 3 are compatible with each other; no adaptor is required. If the drive only has FireWire ports, you'll need to connect it to a FireWire port on your computer. You shouldn't get a Thunderbolt drive for that Mac model.

(100410)

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Answer 2

LowLuster

Level 6

12,105 points

Feb 13, 2014 7:35 PM in response to James Thomson

Tha only has USB 2 and probably Firewire which is really a DEAD technology. So I suggest you get a USB 2 drive.

Although all USB 3 drives will work on USB 2 ports, just not at the USB 3 speed.

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Answer 3

Feb 13, 2014 7:48 PM in response to LowLuster

USB 2 is painfully slow compared to Thunderbolt, Firewire 400/800 or USB 3.

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Answer 4

James Thomson Author

Level 1

110 points

Feb 13, 2014 7:49 PM in response to James Thomson

Thanks for the feedback. So firewire is "out." Okay. I'm also looking at fact that I want to replace my iMac maybe even later this year.... If that's the case maybe I should wait to get the external drive then because maybe even the two acomdata external drives I have that appear to only have firewire won't even be usable on a newest iMac unless there are some adaptors. I may need to totally redo all the external drives.....

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Answer 5

James Thomson Author

Level 1

110 points

Feb 13, 2014 7:50 PM in response to James Thomson

Yeah, another response....they're all "painfully slow" compared to Thunderbolt. I'll be working with Logic Pro. Sounds like I really need to start with a new iMac and then build the new back ups.

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Answer 6

Feb 13, 2014 7:52 PM in response to James Thomson

Drives are still using firewire... all of may drives are firewire 800. If you have an firewire port, I would get the firewire over USB 2.

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Answer 7

MichelPM

Level 10

80,980 points

Feb 13, 2014 8:02 PM in response to James Thomson

As David M. Brewer states

USB 2.0 is too slow and FireWire is NOT dead, yet.

If this Mac is a 2007 of 2008 model, they both have FireWire 800 port which blows the doors off of USB 2.0. get a FireWire hard drive. FireWire 800 drives can be found here.

http://eshop.macsales.com/shop/firewire/1394/USB/EliteAL/eSATA_FW800_FW400_USB

http://www.lacie.com/us/products/product.htm?id=10554

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